Chicken curry is on the menu, literally, when Bangalore based artist Sri Vamsi Matta’s Come Eat With Me is performed at the Campbelltown arts centre next month.
The performance culminates in a shared meal, which incidentally also includes lentil soup and white steamed rice.
And yes, there is a perfectly good explanation why, if you attend this performance, will share in a meal with everyone else there, including the artist himself presumably.
Come Eat With Me is an exploration of the layered relationship between [class] caste and food.
Through Dalit stories, histories and everyday resistance, Come Eat With Me invites the audience on a sensory and emotional journey that unpacks themes of oppression and solidarity, grief and joy and the resilience of oppressed caste communities.
Vamsi identifies as a Dalit, a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent.
The artist is undertaking a two week research and community engagement residency at Campbelltown Arts Centre, which will culminate in the Australian premiere of Come Eat With Me.
The performance transforms the act of inter and intra communal eating – a practice often shaped by caste hierarchies – into a space for reflection, connection and community building.
“Much of the art made about caste is filtered through an oppressor’s lens, often reducing our stories to pity or pain. My work resists that,” says the artist.
“This work speaks to those interested in performance, food cultures, and social justice.
“My work is about building community, reclaiming visibility, and creating spaces where our lives and imaginations are central.”
Mayor Darcy Lound says Campbelltown is a proudly diverse city, home to many cultures, languages, and lived experiences.
“Performances like this encourage our community to share important stories and create opportunities to come together and learn from one another.”
Come Eat With Me will be performed at the Campbelltown arts centre on Friday, October 10 starting at 6.30pm and on Saturday, October 11, also from 6.30pm.
Tickets cost $15-$35, visit https://c-a-c.com.au/come-eat-with-me/